China's ruling Communist Party must keep pace with changing circumstances while safeguarding the advances it has made, President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday during celebrations for its 105th founding anniversary. Xi did not identify specific opportunities or risks, but analysts say slower economic growth and demographic decline pose key challenges for the world's second-largest economy. In a 40-minute speech at Beijing's Great Hall of the People, China's most powerful leader since Mao Zedong urged party cadres to actively recognise and adapt to, change, while promoting the party's work. "China's development is currently in a period where strategic opportunities, risks and challenges coexist," said Xi, who called for the party to better coordinate efforts to tackle domestic and international issues. Faced with external challenges from Western-led curbs on technology to turbulent trade ties with the United States and tension over Taiwan, party l...
Turkey's long-term contract for importing natural gas from Iran is due to expire in the coming months, and the two countries could hold talks on a possible extension, though no negotiations are underway yet, Turkey's energy minister said on Saturday. The agreement, due to expire in July, provides for the delivery of 9.6 billion cubic metres of gas a year, but actual flows have often fallen short. Turkey imported 7.6 bcm from Iran last year, accounting for 13% of total gas imports. Regulator data show the pipeline last hit the contracted volume in 2022. "According to our forecast, we might need this gas pipeline or the gas flow from Iran for the security of supply of Turkey. There is no ongoing negotiation right now. I think they are busy with so many other things. But we might sit and discuss a potential extension," Alparslan Bayraktar told reporters on the sidelines of a diplomacy forum in the southern Turkish province of Antalya. Read: Strait of Hormuz closed again over US blockade, says Iranian military command "But we haven't started a negotiation during the current circumstances in the region," Bayraktar said, referring to the US-Israeli war on Iran. Bayraktar also said Turkey was seeking to diversify natural gas supplies, including through Russian liquefied natural gas. Local media reported this month that Ankara had issued a long-term licence for LNG imports from Russia to pipeline operator BOTAS. Regulator records show BOTAS was issued a 10-year import licence, so far granted only for countries with which Turkey has long-term LNG supply contracts, including Algeria and Oman. Asked about LNG imports, Bayraktar said Turkey had not started importing LNG from Russia. Turkey imports Russian gas via BlueStream and TurkStream pipelines, which together account for about 35% of its overall gas mix.
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